David Lloyd Sued Over £60m Pickleball Sports Gardens Plan

What's the Score?

A bitter civil war has erupted over the use of one of the most famous names in British sport. David Lloyd, the 78-year-old former Davis Cup captain, is being sued by David Lloyd Leisure (DLL)—the company he founded and sold decades ago. The dispute centres on Lloyd's new £60 million venture, "David Lloyd’s Sports Gardens," a proposed chain of pickleball and family entertainment centres. The corporate giant argues this infringes on their trademark, while Lloyd insists he has the right to his own name.

Hit it deeper!

The conflict is rooted in a 1995 deal where Lloyd sold his health club business for £200 million. A subsequent name deed restricted him from promoting tennis-related activities, but Lloyd contends that this agreement expired in 2018. Now, he plans to launch six large-scale complexes in cities like Glasgow, Cardiff, and Guildford, focusing heavily on the booming sports of pickleball and padel.

David Lloyd Leisure, which operates 137 premium clubs across Europe, has sought an injunction. They argue that the "Sports Gardens" branding will mislead the public into thinking the new centres are part of the DLL chain. A spokesperson for the company stated they must defend their brand to prevent "very significant confusion." Lloyd, however, is fighting back, claiming his new concept is fundamentally different: it lacks the expensive membership model of DLL and focuses on "entertainment" rather than traditional health club services. "What they are saying is that I am pretending to be them," Lloyd told the press, vehemently denying the accusation.

The World Pickleball Verdict

This lawsuit is a testament to the perceived commercial value of the coming pickleball boom in the UK. That a corporate giant is willing to go to court to protect its association (or prevent confusion) with a pickleball venture proves the industry is moving into the big leagues. For David Lloyd personally, it represents a fight for his legacy and his ability to capitalise on the racquet sport revolution he helped predict. If the "Sports Gardens" are blocked, it could slow the rollout of dedicated pickleball facilities in the UK; if they proceed, it could trigger a massive expansion of the sport.